Newspaper Review 3:

Date: December 27 2008
Title: India- Pakistan relations near Flashpoint
Section: World, C5

India’s government is convinced that the terrorist in the Mumbai attacks has the backings of Pakistan’s most powerful spy agency. A development that could bring the sub-continent even closer to a flashpoint was a decision made by Pakistan to move thousands of troops away from the afghan borders towards India. According to New Delhi, 10 men involved in the Mumbai attacks were Pakistanis, basing its accusations on the interrogation of one man, Ajmal Kasab, who was captured alive. It also seems there was no record of the person on its national register and has asked India for proof of his nationality. Several news reports have interviewed the terrorists’ father and stated that he came from has been under a security cordon by Pakistani Troops for two weeks. Anger has been raised in New Delhi which has seemed willing to yield to sustained American and British pressure to step back from retaliation. “Pakistan’s baffling decision to use the deniability option is making everyone sore around here. All their investigations have pushed them to conclude that Mumbai was a carefully planned attack with the blessings of the Pakistan military” coated from the article. Prime minister of India, Manmohan Singh stated that non actors were practicing terrorism aided by state establishments. There were also reports that New Delhi had been given Islamabad a month to crack down on the militants or face punitive action. With that deadline for Pakistan to act, there is fear that India may contemplate some sort of military strike. India has also advised its citizens to not to visit Pakistan after the Pakistani media linked a bomb attack in Lahore to the alleged arrests of several Indians in Pakistan. With national elections just months away, the Indian government is aware that it cannot be seen to be to be soft on what is taken to be a direct challenge to the country. Some analysts think that this might lead to surgical strikes instead of a military invasion. Hence, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister told reporters that India should refrain from any surgical strike and it should not commit this mistake, but if it does, Pakistan will compelled to respond. Pakistan is angry with what it perceives as unfair accusations by India. “ You face one Mumbai. Pakistan is facing Mumbais every day” coated from the article. But there are hopes that diplomacy may yet save the day after Chinese Foreign Minister Yang jiechi unexpectedly rang up his Indian and Pakistani counterparts. He called for peace and stability in South East Asia and suggested a meeting to discuss the tension.

Submitted by Rupini =]